Update on my ongoing property tax appeal. We're getting a refund!

[daughtersrus]

I've posted before about how I have to appeal my property tax assessment every year. The first few years, our township assessor agreed to lower it to make it inline with what other homes that are the same model as ours in our subdivision. The last time, the guy was a complete jerk. I won't go into details but he refused to let anyone in his office even speak with me.

I ended up filing a formal appeal with the county. That was Sept 2010. I heard back from them a few months later. As I expected, the county sided with the township assessor. I decided to go one step further and appeal to the state level. At this point, it was more a matter of principle because of the way I was treated. I wanted the state office to know how the assessor's office is treating residents. I never expected to have them decide in our favor. After all, the State of IL is in a financial mess.

I sent the appeal (a huge packet with a 3 page letter, comp sheets I had worked out with other properties in our neighborhood, figures on what I think our assessment should be, photographs of houses, streets...) Feb 2011. I never heard anything so by June 2011 I called. They said that they have so many that it would be some time before they got to ours. A few weeks ago, I got a letter saying that it was in process.

To my surprise, we got a letter Saturday saying that not only did the state review find in our favor but they were lower our assessment even lower that we had requested.

Because the process took so long, our taxes were already paid on the higher amount. I will call the county later and see what happens to the extra money. I also need to check and make sure that this change will also be in place for the taxes that we have coming due in June for last year.

A few of our neighbors got together to do the first appeal with the county. They gave up when the county sided with the assessor. I was the only one that went to the state level. Needless to say, they all wish that they had pursued it as well.

 

[happily single]

That's great news! Bet your neighbors are kicking themselves now.

Now if the State would only do something about the way the township treated you

 

[mikehn]

We've all spent time at the department of motor vehicles so we know what its like dealing with state government employees.

 

[daughtersrus]

The lady from the county called me back today. We're getting a refund of $690.20!

The new assessment doesn't carry over automatically because this year is a "quadrennial" assessment where they reassess all of the properties. Ironically, they lowered them all (including ours) but not nearly to what the state says it should be at. I have to fill out all of the papers(I kept a copy so the leg work is already done) and send it directly to the state. She assured me that it won't be a problem but more of a formality.

So it's not just the difference of $690 for last year but based on tax rates for this year, it will be a difference of just over $700 for this year.

 

[Jaime4004]

Yeah for you! I started the process when we moved 5 yrs ago, knowing that we were assessed far more than the house was worth but they really make you jump through hoops. And it definitely works in their favor, I was way too lazy to go through all that. Luckily, the town got reassessed within the last year or two, and my house was reassessed at $68,000 less! Of course, my taxes didn't go down since everyone was assessed lower...